Nowruz, also known as the Persian New Year, is a holiday observed by millions of people worldwide. It is a time of renewal and hopes in the Iranian calendar, signalling the start of spring and the new year. The holiday has a long history and is marked by numerous customs and traditions.
Nowruz is observed for 13 days, with each day having its own set of customs and traditions. One of the most important customs is house cleaning, which represents getting rid of the old and welcoming the new. Families also set up a Haft-sin table, which includes seven items beginning with the Persian letter "sin" (س). Apples, garlic, sumac, vinegar, wheat, coins, and a mirror represent the seven creations and holy immortals in Zoroastrianism.
Quran
The first thing that Iranians put on the table when setting the Haft-Sin table is the Holy Quran. With the coming of Islam to Iran and the conversion of Iranians and their conversion to Islam, they put the Quran on their Haft-seen table to start the new year with trust and appeal to God Almighty.
Sabze
Sabze is one of the components of the Haft-Sin table, which makes hearts happy with its colour and freshness. Iranians plant wheat or lentils before the new year and in the last days of the year, and some prepare Sabze from the market. In ancient Iran, 25 days before Nowruz, 12 columns of raw clay were erected in the palace of the kings, and a type of grain was planted on each. If the greens grow well, they have a blessed year ahead. Sabze is a symbol of freshness and greenness and indicates human life and its connection with nature.
Apple
You must have heard that the apple on the HaftSin table was a symbol of health, but this is not the whole meaning of apples! The red apple has also been a symbol of love and fertility. Our ancestors put the apple in a bowl of clear water and put it on the Haft-Sin table, thanking God who blessed the apple and hopefully asking for love and fertility.
Samano
Samano is a symbol of good and blessing. It is customary in Iran that a few days before the beginning of the new year, they start the ceremony of baking Samano and believe that by doing this, good and blessings will enter their lives.
Oleaster
Oleaster is a symbol of attachment, wisdom, and fertility. An antler on a Haft-seen table is a symbol of affection. The properties of oleaster for the health of the body are so many that children and the elderly can benefit from its benefits. This fruit is also a symbol of acting wisely. Oleaster is placed on the table because everyone promises to do everything carefully at the beginning of the year.
Garlic
Garlic is another component of the Haft-Sin table, which is a symbol of disinfection and cleanliness of the environment and health of the body, as well as removing sore eyes. For this reason, Zoroastrians used to put garlic on the Haftsin table because they believed that the smell of garlic would ward off bad things. They peel the garlic and then put it on the table.
Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the commonly used liquids in every kitchen, and as we said at the beginning of the article about the role of vinegar in the HaftSin table, it is a symbol of Amordad. This angel has been the myth of immortality of Iranians, and interestingly, vinegar remains healthy for a long time due to its compounds! It is because of this feature that it was chosen as a member of the Haft-seen table in ancient Iran.
Sumac
Sumac is a combination of the word sumac and a product of a small tree whose fresh fruit tastes sour but then becomes acidic and salty. Sumac is a symbol of patience and tolerance and is the embodiment of the sun. This valuable plant has many properties for the body and is usable in different ways. Other components of the HaftSin table include the following.
Coin (a symbol of good fortune and income)
Egg (symbol of birth and creation and a sign of sperm and race)
Mirror (symbol of light)
Water and fish (symbol of blessing in life)
IMAIMA wishes you all a very happy Nowruz!
Here are some common greetings you can send to your friends on Nowruz:
Happy Nowruz! May the new year bring you happiness, joy, and prosperity.
I wish you a happy Nowruz filled with love, peace, and harmony.
As we welcome spring and the new year, may your life be filled with renewed hope and energy. Nowruz Mubarak!
May the light of your Haft-sin table candles shine brightly and bring you blessings throughout the year. Happy Nowruz!